Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Over 100 million face wintry cold blast early next week. Get the forecast. Chevron right

Columbus, OH

49°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

49°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast® Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars
Dense Fog Advisory

News / AccuWeather Ready

8 must haves for your car's emergency supply kit

By Staff, AccuWeather

Copied

Always be prepared for any situation that might catch you off-guard. Keeping these supplies in your car will help you when the unexpected strikes.

It's important that you keep an emergency supply kit in your car. You never know when an emergency will happen, but you can plan for one ahead of time. Here are eight must-haves for your car's emergency supply kit.

Snowstorm Car Stranded

Men work to free a stranded car during a winter snowstorm in Atlantic City, N.J., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

AP

Flashlight and Batteries

If your car breaks down, you don't want to have to depend on your interior lights to see. You will find that a flashlight and batteries will come in handy. When purchasing a flashlight, you need to choose one that has a high amount of wattage.

Jumper Cables

Car batteries can die without much notice. You don't want to be stuck on the side of the road just because you need a jump. It is recommended that you always have jumper cables on hand so that another driver can jump-start your car and get you back on the road.

Multi-Use Tools

Tools can be beneficial for all sorts of things. You can use them to do things like tighten your battery cables or remove a belt. This is why you need to keep them in your emergency supply kit.

Bottled Water

You will find that bottles of water can help you out in a variety of different ways. You can use water to not only drink but to wash things off. It's a good idea to keep a 24 pack of water in your car at all times, just in case you need it.

Emergency preparedness checklist

(Photo/fstop123/Getty Images)

Non-perishable Food Items

If you find yourself in an emergency, you may be stranded in your car for a long time. Because of this, you need to have non-perishable food items with you. Granola bars, crackers, and peanuts can nourish you, and they don't require any preparation or refrigeration.

Flares

If your car breaks down in the middle of the road, you need to make sure that other drivers can see you. Flares can be very beneficial. They are easy to use, and they will alert other motorists that they need to go around your car.

Photo by Hans Braxmeier 

First-aid Kit

Unfortunately, injuries can happen when you are in your car. This is why you need to have the first-aid kit. It should include things like bandages, gauze pads, and antiseptic wipes. All of these things can help you treat your injuries until you can seek medical attention.

Emergency Blanket

During this time of year, it is common for cars to break down due to wicked weather conditions. Even if you check the weather forecast before you leave and still feel comfortable going out, you may find that you always end up in a terrible situation. If the temperature gets very chilly, it will get frigid in a parked car. An emergency blanket can help you stay warm.

In conclusion, you must always have an emergency kit in your car. All of the items mentioned above should be in it. By having the things that you need, you will be prepared throughout the entire ordeal.

Related:

Tips for Keeping Your Car Windshield and Mirrors Ice and Frost Free
How to Winterize Your Car
How to Drive in Snow and Ice
How to Properly Dress for Cold Weather
6 of the Most Scenic Winter Drives in the US
Must-Have Thermal Clothes to Survive This Winter
Report a Typo

Weather News

video

Watching out for deer crossing roads this season

Nov. 7, 2025
video

Where's the snow? Winter off to a late start in Colorado

Nov. 7, 2025
video

Looking ahead to next week

Nov. 7, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Winter Weather

Midwinter-style cold blast to reach more than 100 million in US East

10 hours ago

Winter Weather

First snows, wintry travel of the season soon for Midwest and Northeas...

6 hours ago

Weather News

Homes are collapsing in North Carolina. It could spell trouble for oth...

11 hours ago

Astronomy

Blue Origin to attempt second New Glenn rocket launch, booster landing

12 hours ago

Severe Weather

Severe thunderstorms to hammer central, eastern US

12 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Weather News

50 years later, remembering the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Recreation

A fleeting autumn illusion turns N.C. mountain into an 'animal'

14 hours ago

Travel

Hundreds of US flights are getting slashed as the shutdown continues

15 hours ago

Climate

Amazon lakes became ‘simmering basins’ as temperatures spiked

14 hours ago

Climate

Antarctic glacier saw the fastest retreat in modern history

2 days ago

AccuWeather AccuWeather Ready 8 must haves for your car's emergency supply kit
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy™ About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy™ About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information | Data Sources

...

...

...